Thanks for the replies. Since the genset is used to power my off grid cabin that I don't use too often, usually a week every month or two, the battery is really not getting much use. I had good results during the summer keeping the battery topped off with a 20 watt solar, (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y5TKMZ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1) but it didn't do it in the winter when left without running for a month or two. There could be a leak, which I will solve with a kill switch, but I  think the location of the solar panel is the main issue and I can't really get full sun at this time of year within 30 feet of the genset.....
I was just up at the cabin and took the panel of the electric side of the genset and discovered a 12 v charger built in! I guess this acts like an alternator? I installed a new Optima red top battery which I discovered came at only 12.38 volts. I switched the charger to high and ran for a couple hours per day. It did not bring the voltage up to 12.8 as it should be so might be the battery (which I've already replaced) or maybe the charger...
BTW the old battery was pretty small and only like 500 cca so I think it just drained itself in the winter trying to turn the engine over, which it did once, but then never again...after that the battery voltage dropped to below 10 and I couldn't revive it....supposedly Optima can be drained to almost nothing and revived.

Excellent, thank you!

 T6 is synthetic. Its not required. RotellaT should be fine.
Any sludge or goo will be in the bottom of the sump mostly. Drain oil. Install plug. Toss in a pint or 2 and mix it all up with a paint brush. Drain. Repeat. If the upper areas look dingy, spray them down with a bit of aerosol Brake clean, then wash again with diesel, Kero, Mineral Spirits, Naphtha, or Paint Thinner........any of those will work. Carb Cleaner might soften the paint, so avoid that.

Quote from: ChrisW on April 06, 2020, 01:54:32 AM

Quote from: dkmc on April 04, 2020, 02:38:12 AM

I'm not familiar with that series engine at all.
However I did just find this via google.....

http://www.winget.co.uk/document/LISTER%20ST%20WORKSHOP%20MANUAL.pdf
If this does indeed cover your unit, be sure and download it, as it is complete and a nice find.

If there's a side cover on the engine crankcase, you would remove that, and scoop out the goo. Wash with diesel fuel, rinse, repeat. It looks like a 15-40 diesel oil like Shell Rotella would be a fair choice.

Shell Rotella T6 I'm guessing?
By rinsing with diesel fuel, would I just put back the oil plug after draining the oil, fill with diesel and drain again?
There is a crankcase door on the side, which the oil filter and oil filler are located...you recommend removing that whole assembly to inspect/cleanout around the camshaft?

I'm not familiar with that series engine at all.
However I did just find this via google.....

http://www.winget.co.uk/document/LISTER%20ST%20WORKSHOP%20MANUAL.pdf
If this does indeed cover your unit, be sure and download it, as it is complete and a nice find.

If there's a side cover on the engine crankcase, you would remove that, and scoop out the goo. Wash with diesel fuel, rinse, repeat. It looks like a 15-40 diesel oil like Shell Rotella would be a fair choice.

Shell Rotella T6 I'm guessing?
By rinsing with diesel fuel, would I just put back the oil plug after draining the oil, fill with diesel and drain again?
There is a crankcase door on the side, which the oil filter and oil filler are located...you recommend removing that whole assembly to inspect/cleanout around the camshaft?

For future Refrence information....

For  battery maintence I have been using these Buck Converters on an old household Solar panel.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200W-8A-DC-DC-Step-Down-Buck-Converters-Power-Supply-Module-Boards-XH-M400/372889164422?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

They will take up to 40V and once connected to the battery and it is up to charge, simply ajust the little trimpot to the voltage you want to float the battery(s) at,  13.5, 13.8. 27V  etc.  The converter will charge them up to that level and just hold them there.

Been using this Setup on the tractor and some Garden equipment and worked fine. Recently set up some batteries with an inverter and solar Charging this way Just in case things go down hill with the power.

For battery maintence, a House panel and one of these chargers provides loads of power  and is far cheaper and more effective than the normal small solar type Chargers . This has plenty of power to drive things like monitoring and remote start equipment without the battery ever loosing any significant charge.

With a Voltage relay added, Could also drive a small sump heater to impart some warmth to the engine to stop it getting dead cold and keep moisture out.  They also come in 20 and 30 A versions which would be good for that application.

Excellent tips, thank you for that!

How cold is it when you are trying to start ?  Does it have/use heaters ? Diesel should start on the 1st or 2nd compression, if not, too cold or wrong timing or something     Just my wild guesses

It can get in the low 30's but usually not much lower, it had snowed the night before I had the problem....I did think about having a propane heater on hand to warm up the generator room for such occassions....before I start checking the timing, I want to just get battery, fuel and oil all fresh and primed.

When you say 1st or 2nd compression, is that equivalent to a rotation? Since I start the machine remotely from the cabin, I am not at the machine to see how quick it is turning over, but it can take 4-6 seconds of holding the toggle switch before I can hear the generator actually start...

Third thing is to fit an isolating switch - or possibly two, depending on how things are wired - in the main cable between the battery positive and anywhere else.  So that it's "first" in the big cable going out of the battery.  Have a google - you'll see heaps on EBay or whatever.  When you leave the site, turn the isolating switch or switches "off" and then there's no way for current to leak out of the battery - or not easily anyway.  See pic attached?

If you're going to spend good money on new batteries it will be wasted if the wiring isn't up to spec as they'll have a very short, expensive life

Excuse my long-windedness.  Cheers
[/quote]

Great tips, thank you mikenash. I think the answer is mostly Yes, to all those points, but I will definitely look into the isolating switch, seems like a good idea no matter what.
I just purchased a solar charger which should solve the battery problem:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y5TKMZ4/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A9FP6X594WAFM

I'm not familiar with that series engine at all.
However I did just find this via google.....

http://www.winget.co.uk/document/LISTER%20ST%20WORKSHOP%20MANUAL.pdf
If this does indeed cover your unit, be sure and download it, as it is complete and a nice find.

If there's a side cover on the engine crankcase, you would remove that, and scoop out the goo. Wash with diesel fuel, rinse, repeat. It looks like a 15-40 diesel oil like Shell Rotella would be a fair choice.

Thank you  DKMC! That is my unit and there's a lot of great info in there....fantastic!

Hello Lister fans!

This is my first post and thank you for taking a look.

I recently purchased a cabin in the Sierras of California that has the generator listed in the subject. Apparently it had sat without operation for some 20 years. It started up instantly when I jumped it with my truck since it did not have a battery and has run the last couple years, albeit infrequently, without problem! I've only had to replace the fuel control solenoid and fuel filter.

I am not very mechanical or electrical when it comes to engines. I do, however, appreciate well built machines and this seems to be one that I would love to keep. I would like to make sure I know as much as possible about it and maintain it properly. I do have the original manual from the owner, but it has very little information and , of course, not very up to date.

My questions are:

1. What battery is recommended? I occassionally have problems starting it in the morning if it gets below freezing and I end up draining the battery. I will
be installing a solar trickle charger that will stay on the battery permanently so that when it is not in use, which can be a month or more, it will stay charged.
That said, maybe there is a better battery for this generator.

2. What type of oil is recommended? I did top it up with Delo 400 SD SAE 15W-30, but I need to drain it and put new. The manual does not give instructions on
how to replace oil, can someone give me some pointers?

3. How to crank start? When the battery has died, I have tried crank starting, but it is extremely difficult to rotate the handle....does something need to be disengaged to bypass the electrical starter?

4. How to operate the decompressor levers? According to the manual, when starting the levers should point towards the flywheel, is this correct? Do the levers
need to be backed off after it starts? I generally start the generator remotely from the cabin so I am not at the generator to fuss with the levers and have
always just had them at 12' o'clock. Appreciate any advise here....

5. Does anyone recommend an additive to the diesel fuel considering I often leave the generator for a few weeks to a month without operation and thought a dry gas might help...

Thanks for any advise you can contribute!!

Chris
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